A Guide to Hospital Industrial Laundry

In the healthcare industry, an industrial laundry set-up plays a crucial role. In hospitals infection control and patient well-being are paramount and requires effective organisation to ensure patient safety, staff satisfaction, and overall facility operation. The laundry facility is a vital link in the health care chain.

Every day a hospital laundry will process a wide range of textiles, ranging from medical staff garments to sheets and towels used by patients and must abide by strict hygiene standards.

This guide will cover the key aspects of setting up and running an effective hospital laundry facility.

Infection Control

 In a hospital setting, infection control is extremely important to prevent the spread of nosocomial diseases (hospital-acquired infections). Linens and sheets contaminated with pathogens must be appropriately treated to eliminate any risk of transmission. Effective organisation within the laundry facility ensures that the cleaning and disinfection processes are followed correctly.

The European Standard BS EN 14065 is a quality management system with the aim of ensuring contamination control of processed linen, in environments where microbiological contamination is a risk. This involves a Risk Analysis and Biocontamination Control System.

An RABC system serves to continuously monitor the microbiological quality of processed linen. It involves identifying microbiological hazards associated with each step of the washing process and determining corresponding control measures, assessing environmental conditions that can be controlled to eliminate or reduce risks. Control points should regularly be observed for monitoring purposes and corrected when it becomes apparent that a particular point or environmental condition is not under control.

Although this standard provides users with an effective approach to ensure consistent, effective contamination control, it is not legally binding and cannot provide for all laundry services – specific processes and product regulations are left to local jurisdictions and industries.

Continuous Operation

Hospitals operate 24/7 and therefore need a reliable laundry facility to meet the constant demand for clean linen. Effective organisation will include planning of work schedules, equipment maintenance, and emergency procedures.

Inventory Management

Poor organisation can lead to shortages, or an overflow of both linens and the chemicals needed to clean them. This will affect the hospital’s ability to provide the best care.

Temperature

One of the most important factors in hospital laundry is the temperature. Hot water is used for the removal of stains and also to ensure effective disinfection. The Health and Safety Executive suggests maintaining a temperature of 65°C for at least 10 minutes during the wash cycle or keeping it at 71°C for 3 minutes to meet current healthcare laundry service standards. This high temperature is key in killing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens on the linen.

Detergents and Disinfectants

Hospitals utilise specially formulated detergents and disinfectants designed to meet health laundry service standards.

High quality, industrial strength detergents are used to break down and remove various types of stains, these detergents are also effective at getting bodily fluids and other contaminants from the linen.

Disinfectants are key to meet the cleanliness requirements of hospitals. They eliminate any remaining pathogens and ensure the linens are not only clean but microbiologically safe.

Ozone Technology

Some more advanced laundry facilities use ozone technology as an additional layer of disinfection. Ozone cabinets are designed to deodorise and sanitise all kinds of materials. Ozone is a colourless or pale blue gas, a powerful oxidant, with many applications. Garments are sanitised in a natural way without chemical products. This method aligns with the highest healthcare laundry services standards and provides an extra layer of assurance in infection control.

Check out our range of Ozone Cabinets here.

If you think your commercial washing machines are not performing, it may be time to consider investing in new machines to make sure that you are getting the job done correctly.

Speak to our team at GA Commercial today for advice and next steps.